Apparatus for dispensing of liquids



March 14, 1939. H. H. E. WERNMAN 2,150,198

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSINC 0F LIQUIDS Filed Nov. 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l 76 V l@ A -Malch 14, 1939. H. HI E. wERNl-:MAN

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING OF LIQUIDS Filed NOV. 26, 1935 4 Shee'ts-Sheet March 14, 1939.

H. H. E. WERNEMAN APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING OF LIQUIDS Filed Nov. 26, 1935 March 14, 1939. H. H E. WERNEMAN 2,150,198

- APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING oF LIQUIDS QFiled Nov. 2s, 1935 4 Sheets-sheet 4 Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING OF LIQUIDS Helge Henric Emanuel Werneman, Stockholm, Sweden Application November 26, 1935, Serial No. 51,718 In Sweden November 27, 1934 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing liquids. It is of importance in devices of said type that the elements with which the liquid comes into contact may be easily dismounted for cleaning purposes because emulsions and suspensions frequently cause deposits which must be removed to prevent degeneration of the liquid being dispensed. Deposits and degeneration of the suspension or emulsion in the vessel containing it should also be prevented because of the fact that otherwise the liquid does not maintain a uniform composition. In the case of milk and other liquids for drinking purposes it is also import-ant that the liquid be kept and dispensed under such circumstances as to prevent it from taking up foreign matters from the surrounding more or less impure indoor air.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a dispensing device which fullls the requirements mentioned above. A further purpose of the invention is to provide improved constructions of a plurality of the elements, as for instance valves, which are used in dispensing the liquid so that these elements will fulfill the general requirements made upon the device as a Whole.

A main feature of the invention is that a closed Vessel from which the liquid is discharged entirely by the action of pressure generated in the vessel, is connected with a device adapted to enable air or other gas to be supplied under pressure into the vessel for generation of the said pressure, and in connection therewith the invention is further characterized by a device disposed in the closed vessel and by means of which the liquid m-ay be kept or set in motion periodically or continuously, preferably before each discharging operation. By generating pressure in the vessel to discharge the liquid therefrom a Very simple and rapid discharging may be obtained, and by combining therewith a stirring device a unform quality of the dispensed liquid is secured.

Further advantages and features of the invention will be clear from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a building having installed therein an equipment according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical view partly in section and showing on an enlarged scale the dispensing vessel and its outlet pipe according to a modied construction and having a stirring device.

Figure 3 is a horizontal View of a draining cock on an enlarged scale,

Figure 4 is a vertical elevation corresponding to Figure 3 and showing the said cock.

Figure 5 is a horizontal View showing the draining cock with its handle cut away and the plug elevated from its seat to some extent.

Figure 6 is a central sectional View showing a valve for a measuring device in the plant according to Figure 1, and

Figure '7 is an end view of the said valve.

Figure 8 is an elevation of the plug ofthe cock shown in Figures 6 and '7, taken out of the body of the cock.

Figure 9 is a front view on an enlarged scale, showing a regulating valve for the air pressure conduit shown in Figure 1.

The dispensing plant shown in Figure 1 is intended to be used in sale of milk, and comprises an ordinary milk transport can I positioned on the bottom of an ice trough or the like 2. Pressure air may be introduced into the can by way of a conduit 3 which connects the outlet side of a fan 4 with an orifice in the cover 5 closing the can. The fan is driven by an electric or other suitable motor 6. Connected to the inlet side of the fan is a pipe 'l which extends out of the room in which the can is positioned and is provided at its outer end with a filter 8. It is advantageous that the pipe 1 has its outer end in the fresh air and the mouth or the filter on a level over the ground, which is free from dust as much as possible, so that pure fresh air is always supplied to the can. If desired the lter 8 may be disposed at a place other than at the end of the pipe 'l and the end of the pipe 1 may be disposed in a separate chamber other than that in which the can I is situated.

With reference to Figure 2, the cover 5 of the can is provided with a centrally projecting socket 9 through which the rotatable outlet pipe is carried. The socket serves partly as a guide for the outlet pipe, and partly as a handle in taking off and putting on the removable cover. The outlet pipe consists of a straight tubular portion I0 extending from the bottom of the can and through and above the socket 9, and a second tubular outlet portion screwed to the first-mentioned tube. The outlet portion of the tube may have various constructions as more particularly described below according as the dispensing device is provided with a measuring device or has a simple draining pipe. A packing formed by a sleeve l l of rubber or any suitable cellulosic material or the like is provided between the socket 9 and the portion of the tube I0 positioned therein. Said sleeve is clamped to the tube by a screw l2 which is screwed through a holding ring i3 bearing on the top edge of the socket 9. In case the lower end of the tube Iii abuts against the bottom of the can, said end may be cut out as shown at I4 in Figure 2 so as to enable the liquid to enter the tube. The tube IG is provided with stirring members comprising a helically curved vane l5, which is secured to two studs l5, i1 projecting from the tube. In turning the tube i9 the outside of the packing sleeve il slides against the inside of the socket 9, and to reduce the friction the contact surfaces may be covered by any suitable antifriction means such as paraffin. In case of cellulosic material the packing may be saturated with parain.

A clamping arrangement for holding the cover of the distribution vessel is shown in Figures l and 2. This arrangement comprises two forkshaped laps or bosses 29 secured to the cover in diametrically opposite positions. Each lap or boss is intended to accommodate the upper screw threaded portion of a drawing link Sli the lower end of which is formed as a hook 3| which may be attached to one of the handles 32 of the vessel. After the drawing link has been arranged in this manner, the nut 33 screwed to the upper end thereof may be tightened to the upper side of the lap, and the cover 5 together with its packing 3G is clamped in a tight relation to the edge portion 35 of the vessel.

The dispensing device may advantageously be provided with a measuring container for the liquid to be drawn off. A measuring arrangement shown in Figure 1 comprises two measuring vessels it, iQ superpositioned in a tube 2U which is connected at 2l to the upper end of the tube i G. Each measuring vessel has a definite volume as for instance one sixth of a gallon. A threeway valve 22 is arranged in the lower part of the tube 2U, and a lateral outlet pipe 23 extends from the box thereof. A suitable construction of such three-way valve is described with reference to Figures 6-8. Where it is not desired to use the measuring apparatus, any desired quantity of liquid may be drawn off through draining cock 24 arranged in a pipe 25 communicating laterally with the tube i0. Said laterally extending pipe may be fixed to the tube Iii` as shown in Figure 1, or it may be removably arranged thereon as shown in Figure 2.V The upper one (i9) of the measuring vessels is provided at the top thereof with a tubular socket 50, and connected therewith is a vertical conduit 5i which communicates with the free atmosphere, so that fresh air may be sucked into the measuring vessels as the liquid escapes therefrom. A glass bulb 52 or other suitable Vessel mounted removably in the conduit 5l serves to accommodate and retard liquid which possibly may, by the action of gas bubbles in the socket 50, be squeezed up above the measuring vessel i9, when it is filled. The pipe between the upper measuring vessel and the glass bulb serves also to take up the excess of liquid from the measuring vessels if these vessels have been lled to a too high level. A lter 53 may be disposed at the outer end of the pipe 5l to prevent dust and other foreign matter from being sucked into the pipe. It is to be noted that the air pressure in the vessel l is adjusted by means described below so as always to prevent the liquid level from exceeding under ordinary conditions the level of the socket 5B.

The construction according to Figure 2 is adapted to be used in dispensing devices which do not have a measuring vessel. An elbow pipe 25 is screwed to the threaded top end of the tube l), and the draining cock 2 is provided at the end of the lateral branch thereof. EX- tending from the bottom of the cock body is a socket 26, the threaded lower end of which has an outlet mouth 2l screwed thereto. A handle knob 2B is secured to the top of the cock body.

An embodiment of the draining cock 24 is shown in detail in Figures 3-5. The cock, like the other elements of the plant, is constructed vso as to permit an easy dismounting for cleaning purposes, which is very important from a hygienic point of view. According to the invention the plug of the cock may be removed by a simple manipulation to be cleaned and may afterwards be replaced in an entirely tight position with the same facility. To this end the small end of the conical plug 3l has a stud 38 from which a pin 39 projects on right angles. One end of a leaf spring 4i is secured to pipe 25 and the other end is adapted to yield longitudinally to the plug 3l and comprises a slot i2 corresponding to the stud 3E and its pin 39 so that both of said elements may be carried through the slot after the plug has been turned to the angular position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Adjacent to its large end the plug is provided with a projecting pin 55, and when the plug is completely introduced in the body of the cock, said pin @5 engages a recess d made in the surrounding edge of the body'and forming therein two shoulders 63 for the pin i5. The pin 3d of the stud 38 forms an angle with the slot 42 as. long as the pin Q5 engages the recess 4:3 and its movement is limited by the shoulders 123, and in consequence the cock is prevented from being removed. The cock is kept in said tight position by the spring due to the tensioning action thereof on the plug in its longitudinal direction. In case it is desired to remove the plug, the small .end of the stud 3S is acted upon so as to displace the plug against the action of the spring 4i to an extent sufficient to elevate the pin 155 out of the recess fifi and on a level beyond the outer edge of the cock body as shown in Figure 5, whereupon the cock may be turned freely so that the pin 39 will register with the slot l2 and the plug may be removed from the body 4i).

The three-way valve or cock controlling the supply of liquid to the measuring vessels and the discharge thereof may be constructed as shown in detail in Figures 6-8. The valve body 55 has a socket 5S to be connected to the ascending pipe lil from the vessel i, and a socket 51 in which the connecting pipe of the measuring vessels is adapted to be secured. The plug 58 has formed in its conical seat two recesses or channels 5&3 and 60 forming the passages of the cock. A particular advantage is that said passages are formed as recesses in the seating surface instead of being holes through the plug because the cleaning of the plug may be facilitated on account thereof. The recess 59 extends peripherally and establishes communication between the socket 51 and the outlet pipe- 23 on the Valve body. The recess 5S has besides` a peripheral portion also a portion 6| extending longitudinally to the plug, because the sockets 5? and 56 communicating with each other by way of said recess are positioned in separate planes of the plug. At its large end the plug has a handle 62 which is bored to receive a push stem 53 comprising a push knob 64 which may be pressed inwards against the action of a spring 55. An

abutment pin 66 is secured on the push stem and extends through a longitudinal slot 61 in' the handle. The spring tends to keep the stem and its pin 66 in an upper terminal position in which the pin 66 engages the upper end'of the slot'61; on the other hand the push stem'may be pressed in by operating the knob v61| so 'as to forcev the pin to its second terminal position in engagement with the lower end of the slot. The latter position is shown in Figure 6 in which the spring 65 is thus compressed. On the outside of the valve body 55 thereV are two projections 68 and 66. Said projections are so formed that when the handle 62 is set at for instance the position shown in dotted lines in Figure '1, the pin 66 impinges and is stopped by one of the projections (68), in case the pin occupies its lower terminal position. The pin 66 impinges and isl stopped by the other projection 69 when it is in its upper terminal position. The projection 69 comprises a laterally projecting abutment 10 positioned in that path of the pin 66 in which said pin travels in its upper position. In order that the handle may be moved past the projection 69 after it has passed the projection 68, the pin must be forced downwards so as to pass below the abutment 16. No communication is established between any of the sockets 56, 51, and 23 when the handle is: set so as to have the pin 66 in engagement with the abutment 10. On the other hand,I when the handle is turned-to the right in Figure 7, so that an abutment pin 1I secured to the plug of the cock impinges a shoulder 12 in the body 55, a communication is established between the socket 58 and the socket 51 by way of the angular recess 60 of the plug of the cock. Finally, when the handle is turned to the left to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 7 and in which the abutment pin 1I engages, a shoulder 13 in the body of the cock, there is an open communication between the socket 51 and the draining socket 23 by way of the recess 59. The stopping device formed by the stop pin 66 and the projections 68 and 69 is intended to indicate the closing position of the cock and to prevent the cock from being set too rapidly from one terminal position to the other position which could cause an inadequate measurement.

The fan generating the pressure in the vessel I is intended to deliver a constant outlet pressure. In orde-r to enable a certain regulation of the air pressure in the pipe 3 and the vessel I connected therewith, a valve 15 may be provided at the pressure side of the ian as shown in Figure 1, through which valve a variable part of the pressure air may be discharged so as to decrease the pressure to any extent desired. In addition to this regulating valve 15 a cock 16 shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 9 is disposed in the pipe 3. Said cock may be set in two positions only, and in both of said positions there is: always a communication between the fan and the vessel I, but in one of them there is also a communication open to the free atmosphere by a discharge pipe 11 so that` a predetermined part of the pressure air may escape in said position. When the vessel I is iilled completely and, consequently, a relatively small pressure is required to force the liquid into the measuring vessels, the cock 16 is set in a position in which said communication is o-pen, but when the vessel l is half emptied', the cock 16 is set in a position in which the said communication is shut off and the entire air pressure is applied to the vessel by way of the cock. The pressure is in this case determined by the valve 15.

The motor 6 driving the fan may be operating continuously or intermittently, i. e. be started at each discharging operation in the vessel I. A switch 18 for starting and stopping purposes may be positioned adjacent to the vessel I and an indicating lamp 19 may be coupled to the circuit of the motor so that it is lighted when the motor is in motion.

In drawing off and measuring a desired quantity of liquid such as milk the liquid in the vessel I is rst stirred by oscillating the tube I by means of the handle 28, thereupon the fan is started. Then the valve 22 is set in the position in which the ascending pipe I0 communicates with the measuring vessels I8 and I8 so that the air pressure generated by the fan and transmitted by the pipe 3 to the vessel I forces the liquid up into the measuring vessels I8, I9. When these vessels have been filled to a desired level, the communication with the vessel I is shut ofi whereupon the valve 22 is set so as to open the communication with the draining socket 23 and to allow the liquid to escape from the measuring vessels.

The use of a fan driven by an electric motor as a pressure generating means causes special advantages because such a propelling means neither in its stopped nor its working condition shuts off the connection between the inlet and the outlet pipe thereof so that the vessel I connected to these pipes always communicates with the free atmosphere. The vessel I is therefore at any moment ventilated, and the liquid must not be affected by pressure air in a closed vessel, when no draining or measuring is going on. Furthermore, when the fan is stopped, a momentary reversion of the air from the pressure side of the fan to the suction side thereof occurs, and a blast of air is transmitted back to the filter 8 at the mouth so that dust and the like which could have adhered to the lter during the suction period is blown away. An automatic cleaning of the filter is thus obtained. The driving motor and the fan may be started rapidly and deliver almost instantly the pressure needed whereby the dispensing may take place directly after starting.

Though I prefer a fan as the pressure generating means in the plant according to the invention, it is possible to use a manually operable plunger pump for this purpose. A motor driven plunger compressor or a pressure gas container having a pressure reducing valve may also be employed..

It will be understood that numerous modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the following claims.

I claimtl. A cock comprising a body member and a removable tapering plug, a spring secured to said body member and to one end of said plug and tensioned to force said plug onto its seat in said body member, and means for locking the spring to the plug as long as the rotational motion thereof is limited within a predetermined angular range.

2. A cock comprising a body member and a removable tapering plug, a spring secured to said body member and to one end of the plug and tensioned to force said plug onto its seat in said body member, and a bayonet joint serving to lock the spring to the plug within a predetermined permit the separation of the plug and spring at an angular position of the plug beyond said range.

3. A cock comprising a body member and a removable tapering plug, a spring secured to said body member and to one end of the plug and tensioned to force said plug onto its seat in said body member, a projection secured to the large end of said plug, shoulders arranged in said body member adapted to cooperate with said projection to limit the range of rotational movement of the plug While the latter is in its seated position, a bayonet joint adapted to lock the spring to the plug while the latter is Within said limited range of rotational movement and to be released by displacing the plug longitudinally so as to permit said projection to pass said shoulders and rotating the plug beyond said limit.

HELGE HENRIC EMANUEL WERNEMAN. 

